Remote Sensing of Overhead Line Conductor Temperature Using An
Remote Sensing of Overhead Line Conductor Temperature Using An
Remote Sensing of Overhead Line Conductor Temperature Using An
ABSTRACT
This paper describes the design and construction of a sensor for the remote temperature measurement of 400kV overhead
conductors using an infrared detector. Overhead line conductor sag increases with operating temperature; if a conductor is
allowed to operate at an elevated temperature then the minimum safety clearance of the conductor may be exceeded. An
additional concern is annealing of the conductor strands. Greater utilisation of a line may be achieved using a dynamic
rating algorithm for which conductor temperature measurement is important. The paper shows experimental results for the
sensor when applied to a conductor simulated using a heated copper rod. The sensor was capable of measuring at a distance
of up to 6 m. It is proposed that the sensor is mounted on a transmission tower at the same height as the lowest conductor.
Further work required to improve the sensor is discussed.
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Dynamic ratings
Conventionally, overhead lines are rated statically by Measurements below 30°C are unnecessary since an
ensuring, through the use of thermal models, that critical unenergised conductor on a hot summer day in the UK
components do not exceed manufacturer's stated regularly approaches this temperature due to solar
exposure limits. The rating is normally based on worst radiation alone. Taking this into account, and allowing
case assumptions of heat transfer, circuit loading and for monitoring under emergency conditions, the sensor
weather conditions along the circuit. Such ratings are was designed to work over the temperature range of 30°C
termed steady-state or normal meaning that no time limit to 150°C.
applies. Altematively the rating can be time dependant
ranging from very short time periods, e.g. 15 minutes in
the case of an emergency rating, to seasonal ratings 3. HARDWARE DESIGN
taking account of long-term changes in weather
conditions such as summer and winter ratings. Static Infrared Detector
ratings are conservative in nature and inevitably lead to All objects emit electromagnetic radiation. The radiation
lines being unnecessarily thermally constrained under emission spectrum is dependent on the temperature and
some conditions. emissivity of the object; the distribution of radiation can
be calculated using Planck's radiation law. An object
Dynamic ratings are based on a prediction of conductor that emits radiation perfectly is called a black body in
temperature which is dependent largely on weather recognition of the fact that a black body will perfectly
forecasts along the circuit route. Dynamic ratings allow a absorb incident radiation. A black body can be regarded
fuller utilisation of thermal capacity of the line. Due to as representing the theoretical maximum value of
the extensive usage of steel cored aluminium conductors, radiation for a given temperature [6]. To relate object
dynamic ratings are related to the sag clearance at the temperature and radiation, Wien's displacement law can
highest allowable conductor temperature. Typical be used to find the peak of the radiation distribution.
dynamic ratings are 24 hour continuous rating, 1 to 24 Using the temperature range of 30°C to 150°C described
hour long-time emergency rating or 1 to 60 minute short- earlier, the radiation peaks are calculated as 9.9pm and
time-emergency rating. By comparison, the time constant 6.9pm respectively, thus the sensor should be responsive
of an overhead conductor is typically 10 minutes [l]. over this range. The sensor uses a pyroelectric detector
Dynamic ratings can utilise inexpensive weather (Hamamatsu P3782-05) having a spectral response in the
recording equipment installed along the circuit route [3], range 5pm to 20pm. The detector is thermally
or incorporate temperature or tension monitors [4]. compensated against changes in ambient temperature.
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the lower frequency cut-off is set to 5 Hz to prevent the 400kV conductor is assumed by the National Grid
detector output dc offset voltage (measured at 0.8 V) Company to be 0.9 after 6 months.
being amplified. The upper cut-off frequency is set to 1
kHz - a figure that is a compromise between high
frequency noise rejection and good resolution of the 4. RESULTS
chopped detector output. All of the sensor electronics
were mounted in a screened enclosure.
conductor \ \ I
0.
0.
I 1- - motor -504 ^ ^ ~
50 mslDiu
dowed disk The ac nature of the sensor output, due to the mechanical
chopping of the incident radiation, is shown in figure 2
- 6m under high output conditions (300°C soldering iron 25
mm from detector). During operation, when the chopper
is rotating, the detector is cyclically exposed to the
Figure 1 Outline of remote sensing device plastic disk and the target heat source in a ratio of
approximately 5:l. The positive and negative spikes of
Experimental Simulation figure 2 are indicative of the temperature difference
Although a 1 m section of 400 kV conductor was between the disk and the target. The negative to positive
available, no suitable method of heating the section to transition of the output represents the target to disk
150°C - either by ohmic heating or the use of a suitably transition. During the tests, the peak negative output of
large oven - could be used. To overcome this difficulty, the detector circuit was recorded using an oscilloscope.
a solid copper rod of similar size to the conductor was
heated using by using a propane blowtorch. The rod was Experience with the cooling characteristics of the copper
heated to 150°C and then the sensor was used to take rod showed the suitable resolution for measurements to
measurements during the cooling period. This procedure be 5°C intervals. Output voltage measurements were
was repeated several times at varying distances between taken at metre intervals from 1 to 6 metres and at 5°C
the sensor and the rod. intervals from 150°C down to 30°C. The temperature of
sử dụng thanh đồng thay cho dây dẫn 400kV the copper rod was recorded by the use of a
Using the copper rod in place of the 400kV conductor thermocouple. Figure 3 shows the output voltage versus
gave the worst case results. There are two reasons for temperature variation at a distance of 5m. It will be
this: apparent that the relationship between output voltage and
1) The copper rod is slightly smaller than the temperature is far from linear, although it is monotonic.
conductor, (028mm to 030” respectively). From
the simulation viewpoint it provides a worst case
scenario for the tests as the detector ‘sees’ a smaller
area than with an actual 400kV conductor. A 400kV
transmission system generally has four conductors
per phase to keep corona discharge to a minimum,
therefore, if the detector can measure temperature at
6 metres with a single copper rod, measurement on
an actual 400kV transmission system at 6 metres
should be more favourable.
2) The copper has a different emissivity when 30 40 50 W 70 So 90 IC0 110 120 130 140 150
compared to the 400kV conductor. After heating Temperature (‘C)
the copper with the blowtorch the surface would be
copper oxide, the emissivity of which is 0.57. This
gives a worst case result, as the emissivity of a Figure 3 Sensor Output Voltage at 5 m
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Hình 4 cho thấy sự thay đổi của điện áp đầu ra so với khoảng cách
trong một phạm vi nhiệt độ cố định. Có thể thấy rằng ở khoảng cách
lm, điện áp đầu ra thay đổi 80 mV trong phạm vi nhiệt độ hoạt động,
trong khi sự thay đổi điện áp động này giảm xuống 10 mV ở khoảng
cách 6 m.
tower that is of concern. It is therefore proposed to mount
the sensor at the same horizontal position as the lowest
Figure 4 shows the variation in output voltage against phase bundle, as shown in figure 5 for a standard UK 400
distance for a range of fixed temperatures. It can be seen kV tower.
that at a distance of l m the output voltage changes by 80
mV over the operating temperature range, whereas this
dynamic voltage change reduces to 10 mV at a distance
of 6 m.
Accuracy
The relationship shown by the plotted points in figure 3
was evident, in scaled form, at all distances. At 1 m, the
temperature measurement accuracy was better than
approximately 1"C. This accuracy decreased at greater
distances, since the reduced dynamic range of the sensor
output signal degraded the signal to noise ratio. At 6 m it
was not possible to accurately measure temperatures less
than 75°C since the signal to noise ratio was unity; at 7 m
no measurements were possible at all.
-&
The practicalities of converting between the output Approx.
voltage and the temperature must be considered. Using a
digital approach, involving sampling of the detector 5.5 m
output and a look-up table, this accuracy would be
maintained. However, an exponential curve-fit, as shown Figure 5 400 kV Transmission Tower
in figure 2, gives a maximum error of approximately 5%
- i.e. 7.5"C.
6. CONCLUSION
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7. FURTHER WORK
389